Former Comorian President Ahmed Abdallah Sambi, who has remained in incarceration for four years over graft allegations appeared before a security court on Monday for high treason charges.
64-year-old Sambi, the main opponent to president Azali Assoumani appeared feeble as he sat in the courtroom.
Sambi was president of the country between 2006 and 2011, and his lawyers challenged the composition of the court calling it “illegal”.
“I do not want to be tried by this court,” Sambi said. The hearing continues on Tuesday.
The former president was originally placed under house arrest for disturbing public order, but three months later he was placed under pre-trial detention.
The basis for his detention was charges of misappropriation, graft, and forgery, in a scandal involving the sale of Comorian passports to stateless people living in Gulf nations. He was later charged with high treason.
